Raith Rovers look to keep third-place hopes alive against Falkirk

McKinnon’s men have a slim chance of catching Hibs

Play-off places are already secure for Raith Rovers and Falkirk in the Ladbrokes Championship, but both are keen to secure the best spot possible, and each will be keeping an eye on how Hibernian do this weekend.

Peter Houston’s Bairns are looking to bypass the first play-off round, and victory here would leave the central belt club overwhelming favourites to secure second spot.

Ray McKinnon’s Rovers, meanwhile, want to secure home advantage in the play-offs, and victory here would leave them just two points behind Hibs, albeit with more games played.

The hosts go into this clash at Starks Park on a sensational run of form. The Fife club have collected 23 points from their last nine games, with the Bairns having wobbled recently with just two wins in six.

The hosts also boast goals from all around the pitch, and have netted eight times in their last three games. Falkirk, meanwhile, are the division’s second-highest scorers, so a goal fest could well be on the cards. It’s 4/1 that this clash will see over 4.5 goals, which could prove popular.

Even if the goals fly in, any margin of victory is likely to be narrow. Rovers have home advantage and are the in-form team, but the visitors have three wins in the last five meetings of these sides. So will it be recent form or head-to-head history which wins out?

Rovers are marginal favourites at 29/20, with 3/2 for a Falkirk win, and a share of the spoils priced at 5/2.

Many are predicting Ryan Hardie to be the difference between these two, though. With five goals in eight games for Rovers, the hugely talented Rangers loanee is 5/1 to score first.

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Dave graduated with an MA in English Literature at Durham University, and worked in marketing before joining the Ladbrokes News team. A Man United fan and avid groundhopper, he’s also an ardent follower of Rugby League. You can usually find him at a ground near you, clutching a big cup of tea.

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